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Not only is the storage in my small kitchen unsatisfactory, but the kitchen also leads into the living room in an open-floor layout, which I personally don’t enjoy. To make matters worse, for a while, me and my roommates’ dishes, small appliances, and pantry items were spilling out of the cabinets and onto almost every available inch of counter space, making this general common area look messy and unorganized. We eventually added a couple sets of shelves, but that didn’t fully alleviate the problem. In my previous apartment, my roommate there had had a rolling island, and I figured this might be the only thing that could actually help us organize the kitchen for good. When browsing different carts online, I came across the HOMCOM rolling kitchen cart on Home Depot’s website. 

I opted to try the cart because it looked like it had adequate storage, and I figured it could break up my common area into two separate spaces. Plus, its clean design and black cabinets would blend in with the rest of my furniture. Now that I’ve had the cart for a few months, I wish I’d gotten it as soon as I moved in. Best of all, it’s under $200 at regular retail price and currently on sale for just $136!

The cart measures 41 inches wide, almost 36 inches tall, and extends back 18 inches, so although it’s not too big for tiny kitchens, it can still hold a lot. Its impressive storage capacity is also thanks to its two generous cabinets, which each have two tall shelves that are able to accommodate anything from dry goods to your blender or stand mixer. Above that, you get two drawers that measure 16.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches tall, which is enough height so you don’t have to worry about whether bar tools, coffee accessories, or spice jars will fit. The black cabinets contrast nicely against a light-colored rubberwood top, which serves as a great butcher block or general meal prep area. As for the wheels, they roll smoothly and therefore won’t scratch your floors should you choose to move the cart. To keep it stationary, however, two of the wheels lock with easily flippable brakes.

One piece of advice I have is to avoid putting too much weight on the upper interior shelves, as they’re a bit thin. You could probably get away with putting items that weigh up to 20 lbs. on each one. As a result, I’d put heavier items, like small appliances and bottles of oil, on the lower shelves. Regarding the cart’s assembly, my roommate was able to put it together in about two hours, while I helped minimally by holding certain parts together as she screwed the nails in. It’s definitely a two-person job, but the instructions were detailed and helpful.

Before acquiring the rolling cart, every cabinet and drawer in our kitchen was stuffed with plates, dish towels, snacks, and other miscellaneous items, to the point where it was hard to find space for groceries and new buys. The counters were also lined with tea and coffee gear, as well as bottles of olive oil and spice jars, making meal prep a bit difficult. Once our cart was assembled, we were able to clear up the counters by placing the oil bottles and other ingredients on one of the lower shelves and the spices and tea bags in the drawers. We also decluttered the kitchen sink area by storing cutting boards on a shelf, freed up kitchen drawer space by placing oven mitts and dish rags inside the cart, and also relieved the storage closet of some clutter by placing cat food and bowls on another shelf. Suffice to say, the cart made a huge difference in my kitchen’s organization.

I also love this product’s light wood top, which is a great little spot for meal prep. Before, there was only enough counter space for one person to cook at a time, but now there’s enough surface area for two of us to make dinner at once. And, it’s so easy to clean. A couple of passes with surface cleaner and a Swedish dishcloth, and it looks as good as new.

Finally, I couldn’t be happier with the placement of the cart. Before, the kitchen and living room were one long, conjoined space. But we put it in between the two areas, so now it feels like we have a cozy little living room that’s separate from the kitchen. What’s more, the cart doesn’t budge once the wheels are locked.

If you’ve been thinking about getting your own rolling kitchen cart, I highly recommend this one. Not only does it look great, but it also holds a lot of stuff and is every bit as practical as I had hoped. Plus, for that low price, it’s a no-brainer.

Buy: HOMCOM Rolling Kitchen Cart, $135.95 (normally $169.94)